How many ebooks should you have?

Sydney's Mom · 11-01-2012, 02:17 PM

A lot of us bought ereaders because pbooks were taking over our houses.

So, we switched to ebooks. The places to get ebooks are endless. There are free ebooks from various sources, library books, etc. All they take up is space on your computer or in the cloud. Of course, neither of those are without impact. I have to beg people (strong arm in the case of my family) to signup to my cloud account.

How many is enough? Perhaps we ought to do this by age, as I am more elderly than a lot of you. I am 56, and have 4500 books in my TBR pile. I read bout 150 books a year, so that gives me 30 years, if I stop collecting right now. Except my tastes change. Sometimes I like mysteries. Sometimes I like romance. Currently, I am obsessed with science fiction end of the world sagas.

So, I guess I will just keep on collecting. What do you think is a reasonable number of books to have in TBR? And how do you justify it (if you think justification is even necessary)?

vxf · 11-01-2012, 02:31 PM

My preferences are very volatile. And I seem to need to change things around - so I will not read two 'similar' books one after the other, generally.

So I have learned that having an extensive number of ebooks ready for perusal does not make much sense. Even more, I have been switching devices with astonishing frequency (I think every year I end up with a new ebook reader, even if I promise myself not to), which makes it even more pointless.

So, I keep a list on Goodreads. If I stumble upon anything I might want to read, I click on it. Not sure how many books are there. Probably about 100 or so. But I don't go looking for them until I feel like actually reading them. If I decide I want to read something, it generally does not take more than a couple of minutes to find it... so I don't really worry about it in advance.

Now, that's for fun. For academics - that is, for work - it's a whole different story. I have 68 academic articles on my iPad, to be read, 4 textbooks to go through by Christmas, and a list of probably 20 or so books I want to read, most of which I have in paper copies.

I am not sure what is an optimal amount. I just now that organizing up front can lead to a lot of wasted time, if standards or devices change. I spent a good chunk of my childhood collecting and organizing music tapes and records. The records retain their own appeal, but tapes? I am not making that mistake again...

Carpe diem. Or carpe libro (??? is that even right ???) and just get reading. Life's too short to organize, I say.

Sydney's Mom · 11-01-2012, 02:37 PM

Oh but if you use Calibre, organization is painless!

crich70 · 11-01-2012, 02:42 PM

I've got over 6K ebooks according to my Kindle account. Most of them though are books bought through Amazon so they are part of my actual Amazon account rather than books I've uploaded to my Cloud space. Most of them are books that were offered as free at the time I bought them as well. They are of various genre's so I shouldn't get bored with my selection.

K. Molen · 11-01-2012, 02:48 PM

I don't think there's any set number for what's reasonable. Personally I try to only keep books in my TBR list that I know I'd be interested in reading at some point, even if that point isn't right now. When I first got into e-books I downloaded a bunch of free classics that I felt I should read, but I've since gone through my Calibre library and pruned out those books I know I'd never actually get around to reading.

Beyond that, I have no problems having way more books on my TBR list than I could ever read in my lifetime, as long as there's a reasonably high probability that I may choose any one title from it.

ME2012 · 11-01-2012, 03:19 PM

That's the beauty of ereaders - we can have as many books as we desire.

I resisted ebooks just because I appreciate a real book I can hold in my hands. However I can't handle the clutter paperbacks create.

Along the same line - I can't stand a clutter of ebooks on my digital devices either. I get overwhelmed when too many titles show up in my library. Though I prefer to have my next book lined up before I finish one I'm reading - having a huge collection of books on reserve doesn't work for me.

Sydney's Mom · 11-01-2012, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ME2012

Along the same line - I can't stand a clutter of ebooks on my digital devices either. I get overwhelmed when too many titles show up in my library. Though I prefer to have my next book lined up before I finish one I'm reading - having a huge collection of books on reserve doesn't work for me.

We are kindred spirits. I hate a messy home page. And even then, I try to pick the first 20 or so in each category (collection) on my kindle. I read collections are coming to the kindle fire as well!

DiapDealer · 11-01-2012, 03:37 PM

How many ebooks are there?

But seriously, after about 4+ years of switching to mainly reading ebooks, I've only amassed a little more than 500 ebooks. The majority I've already read -- I don't really stockpile that much. Plus I cull my TBR "freebies" pretty regularly. Some books I just know I'm never going to read, so I don't hesitate to release their bits back into the ether.

DuskyRose · 11-01-2012, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sydney's Mom

What do you think is a reasonable number of books to have in TBR?

As many ebooks as I want and can afford.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sydney's Mom

And how do you justify it (if you think justification is even necessary)?

I don't think it's necessary.

The only person who would care, Dear Hubby, doesn't care one whit how many ebooks I have as long as I stay within my "Goodies" budget. (Just like he has to stay within his.)

And he's all for me grabbing all the freebies and fanfic I want. Hunting is part of the fun.

Sydney's Mom · 11-01-2012, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

How many ebooks are there?

But seriously, after about 4+ years of switching to mainly reading ebooks, I've only amassed a little more than 500 ebooks. The majority I've already read -- I don't really stockpile that much. Plus I cull my TBR "freebies" pretty regularly. Some books I just know I'm never going to read, so I don't hesitate to release their bits back into the ether.

But what if you were lost on a desert island (that just happened to have wi-fi). Then couldn't you see the need for those books?

Apache · 11-01-2012, 05:01 PM

You can never have to many ebooks.
Apache

kennyc · 11-01-2012, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sydney's Mom

A lot of us bought ereaders because pbooks were taking over our houses.

So, we switched to ebooks. The places to get ebooks are endless. There are free ebooks from various sources, library books, etc. All they take up is space on your computer or in the cloud. Of course, neither of those are without impact. I have to beg people (strong arm in the case of my family) to signup to my cloud account.

How many is enough? Perhaps we ought to do this by age, as I am more elderly than a lot of you. I am 56, and have 4500 books in my TBR pile. I read bout 150 books a year, so that gives me 30 years, if I stop collecting right now. Except my tastes change. Sometimes I like mysteries. Sometimes I like romance. Currently, I am obsessed with science fiction end of the world sagas.

So, I guess I will just keep on collecting. What do you think is a reasonable number of books to have in TBR? And how do you justify it (if you think justification is even necessary)?

Elderly my ass, yer, just a young whipper-snapper, when you get to be my age you won't worry about things like this, you'll just read.

.....or do art.

Quexos · 11-01-2012, 05:07 PM

Exactly my thoughts

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apache

You can never have to many ebooks.
Apache

jgaiser · 11-01-2012, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

How many ebooks are there?

Beat me to it...

My main Calibre library is a bit over 1400 and nearly 400 in my Baen library. About 350 on my DX.

DiapDealer · 11-01-2012, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sydney's Mom

But what if you were lost on a desert island (that just happened to have wi-fi). Then couldn't you see the need for those books?

In that case, yes. And when that happens, I promise to be absolutely inconsolable for not being prepared for just such a situation.

11-01-2012, 02:17 PM	#1
Sydney's Mom Wizard Posts: 2,899 Karma: 6995721 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Idaho, on the side of a mountain Device: Kindle Oasis, Fire 3d Gen and 5th Gen and Samsung Tab S	How many ebooks should you have? A lot of us bought ereaders because pbooks were taking over our houses. So, we switched to ebooks. The places to get ebooks are endless. There are free ebooks from various sources, library books, etc. All they take up is space on your computer or in the cloud. Of course, neither of those are without impact. I have to beg people (strong arm in the case of my family) to signup to my cloud account. How many is enough? Perhaps we ought to do this by age, as I am more elderly than a lot of you. I am 56, and have 4500 books in my TBR pile. I read bout 150 books a year, so that gives me 30 years, if I stop collecting right now. Except my tastes change. Sometimes I like mysteries. Sometimes I like romance. Currently, I am obsessed with science fiction end of the world sagas. So, I guess I will just keep on collecting. What do you think is a reasonable number of books to have in TBR? And how do you justify it (if you think justification is even necessary)?

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11-01-2012, 02:31 PM	#2
vxf Guru Posts: 944 Karma: 1490348 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Norman, OK Device: Sony PRS 350, 900, 950; Kindles (ALL of them!); Kobo Aura One	My preferences are very volatile. And I seem to need to change things around - so I will not read two 'similar' books one after the other, generally. So I have learned that having an extensive number of ebooks ready for perusal does not make much sense. Even more, I have been switching devices with astonishing frequency (I think every year I end up with a new ebook reader, even if I promise myself not to), which makes it even more pointless. So, I keep a list on Goodreads. If I stumble upon anything I might want to read, I click on it. Not sure how many books are there. Probably about 100 or so. But I don't go looking for them until I feel like actually reading them. If I decide I want to read something, it generally does not take more than a couple of minutes to find it... so I don't really worry about it in advance. Now, that's for fun. For academics - that is, for work - it's a whole different story. I have 68 academic articles on my iPad, to be read, 4 textbooks to go through by Christmas, and a list of probably 20 or so books I want to read, most of which I have in paper copies. I am not sure what is an optimal amount. I just now that organizing up front can lead to a lot of wasted time, if standards or devices change. I spent a good chunk of my childhood collecting and organizing music tapes and records. The records retain their own appeal, but tapes? I am not making that mistake again... Carpe diem. Or carpe libro (??? is that even right ???) and just get reading. Life's too short to organize, I say.

11-01-2012, 02:37 PM	#3
Sydney's Mom Wizard Posts: 2,899 Karma: 6995721 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Idaho, on the side of a mountain Device: Kindle Oasis, Fire 3d Gen and 5th Gen and Samsung Tab S	Oh but if you use Calibre, organization is painless!

11-01-2012, 02:42 PM	#4
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,310 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	I've got over 6K ebooks according to my Kindle account. Most of them though are books bought through Amazon so they are part of my actual Amazon account rather than books I've uploaded to my Cloud space. Most of them are books that were offered as free at the time I bought them as well. They are of various genre's so I shouldn't get bored with my selection.

11-01-2012, 02:48 PM	#5
K. Molen Addict Posts: 284 Karma: 4478866 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Toronto, ON Device: Kindle 3, iPad 3, Nexus 10, Nexus 5	I don't think there's any set number for what's reasonable. Personally I try to only keep books in my TBR list that I know I'd be interested in reading at some point, even if that point isn't right now. When I first got into e-books I downloaded a bunch of free classics that I felt I should read, but I've since gone through my Calibre library and pruned out those books I know I'd never actually get around to reading. Beyond that, I have no problems having way more books on my TBR list than I could ever read in my lifetime, as long as there's a reasonably high probability that I may choose any one title from it.

11-01-2012, 03:19 PM	#6
ME2012 Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 496330 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: NYC Device: Nook, 1 Gen	That's the beauty of ereaders - we can have as many books as we desire. I resisted ebooks just because I appreciate a real book I can hold in my hands. However I can't handle the clutter paperbacks create. Along the same line - I can't stand a clutter of ebooks on my digital devices either. I get overwhelmed when too many titles show up in my library. Though I prefer to have my next book lined up before I finish one I'm reading - having a huge collection of books on reserve doesn't work for me.

11-01-2012, 03:37 PM	#8
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,570 Karma: 204127028 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	How many ebooks are there? But seriously, after about 4+ years of switching to mainly reading ebooks, I've only amassed a little more than 500 ebooks. The majority I've already read -- I don't really stockpile that much. Plus I cull my TBR "freebies" pretty regularly. Some books I just know I'm never going to read, so I don't hesitate to release their bits back into the ether.

11-01-2012, 05:01 PM	#11
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,277 Karma: 90000484 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	You can never have to many ebooks. Apache

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